Has collected [Phalli] in Shropshire and compared them with Barmouth species. Is convinced they are different.

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Asks JSH for introductions to R. T. Lowe and Andrew Smith.

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Has been given another week's respite by FitzRoy.

Transcription

My dear Henslow

I have received another parcel of the Phalli from Barmouth.—
& another jar of them, which I gathered the day before yesterday in a very damp
shady wood: I am more than ever convinced that they are different species.—
The Shropshire ones are, whiter more conical & stiffer, than the Barmouth one:
the ball more dark coloured & the cap has less jelly, & that not so dark
coloured:

They are all preserved in gin & brine owing to the want of more
spirit.—

I have sent some of the Leiodes.— Will you be kind enough, when you send my
goods to London—you will enclose a piece of brick lapped up in the German
fashion.— & mention likewise, what sort of Lens Mr
Brown recommended.— & lastly do not forget
the introductions to Lowe & Smith.—

I heard from Cap Fitzroy yesterday he gives me a week more of respite, &
therefore I do not leave this place till the end of this week, & London on the
16th of October.— I wish indeed that time was arrived, for I
begin to be very anxious to start.— My Father is
getting much more reco<nci>led to the idea, as I knew he would, as soon as
he became accustomed to it.—

Robert Brown had made important microscopical observations, among them the discovery
of Brownian movement. See Autobiography, pp. 103--4, for CD's
reminiscences of Brown. In a letter of 26 March 1848 to
Richard Owen (New York Botanic Garden), CD compares a newly acquired microscope to `the
one, which I used on board the Beagle & which was recommended to me by
R. Brown'. This is almost certainly the Bancks microscope now at
Down House (see letter to Susan Darwin, [6 September 1831],
n. 1). CD's is an improved version of Brown's own instrument, also made by
Bancks, which is now on display at the Linnean Society.

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f2 138.f2

Richard Thomas Lowe, then residing at Madeira, was the author of a work on the flora
and fauna of that island (Lowe 1833, read 15 November 1830).
Stormy seas prevented the Beagle from putting in at Madeira, so CD did not meet
Lowe.

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f3 138.f3

Andrew Smith.

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f4 138.f4

During this visit CD went to say farewell to the Wedgwoods at Maer, where his
account of the prospective voyage apparently aroused some misgivings. On 29
September, his cousin Hensleigh Wedgwood wrote to his fiancée, Fanny
Mackintosh: `I wonder Charles is not damped in his ardour for the expedition. He says
that Patagonia where they are going first to is the most detestable climate in the
world, raining incessantly, & it is one vast peat bog without a tree to be seen.
The natives will infallibly eat you if they can get an opportunity. They have got some
tame Patagonians that they are going to take back & who promise to give up
cannibalising but they do not believe a word of their promises. Then their mode of
proceeding will be to anchor close to shore & remain there two or three weeks
till they have surveyed all the country about & then go on to another place. It
is very enterprising to go in spite of such discouraging accounts.' (B. and
H. Wedgwood 1980, p. 215).